About Me

Hi there, I am Lottie Stilton. When my grandfather reached the end of his life, he decided to stay home rather than wither away in a nursing home. He wanted to pass in the home he shared with his wife and kids. We respected that choice and set up home health care services for him. Although we would provide the bulk of his emotional support, we could not bathe, dress and move him safely. The home health care company dropped off a bed, lifting devices and bathing equipment for their workers to use. My grandfather always received gentle care from the aides that provided constant care. I hope to share these experiences to help others learn the benefits of hiring home health care aids. It is possible to comfortably and safely complete the hospice process at home. Thanks.

In-home care can provide a more comfortable way for individuals to receive extra help and care. Instead of having to move into a facility outside of their own home, your loved one can have a caretaker come to the home as often as necessary. That can be part-time, full-time, or can even be a live-in situation. If you're considering this type of care for your loved one, you want to make sure that you choose a great caretaker that meets your needs and keeps your loved one safe. Keep reading to learn how to choose an in-home caregiver:

Understand Care Needs

Before you even begin to look into caregiver options, you want to understand your needs. Consider what your loved one needs help with on a daily basis. This can make it easier to communicate with potential caregivers to make sure that they're a good fit. You should write down all responsibilities and tasks.

Write a Job Description

Next, it's a good idea to outline a job description. This makes it easier to outline expectations for the role as well as education and experience requirements for the person that you hire. Make sure that you work with your loved one when doing this so they have a say in the process.

Interview Potential Caregivers

Next, you'll want to meet with potential caregivers to interview them, learn about their skills, and ask questions. Meeting in person is recommended as it gives you a chance to get a feel for their personality and whether you think everyone will get along well.

Do a Background Check

Always look into potential caregivers to make sure they're the real deal. You can do a background check on each applicant to check to make sure that they're a safe and reliable choice for your loved one's care.

Develop a Contract

It's also a smart idea to develop a contract. This gives you a chance to spell out the expectations and rules that are in place. It also gives you and the caregiver a document to look to in the future if there are disagreements or confusion about responsibilities. Finally, if a caregiver doesn't work out, this gives you a way out so that you can hire someone else.

Following these tips can make it easier to choose an in-home caregiver for your loved one. For more information on the process, contact services like Cool Waters Home Care.